“The character ”之" originally originated from spatial creases between mountains and forests, along which people slowly created paths.
Concept Explanation
Creases become marks; following the marks creates a path.
This is the symbol of the Alishan Forest Railway, weaving through the forests of Alishan.
Zhi is a shape symbol representing bamboo and bamboo craftsmanship, deeply possessing the aesthetic form of bamboo itself.
This, too, is a spatial symbol of the railway itself, illustrating the highly characteristic zigzag railway tracks and switchback stations of the Alishan Forest Railway.
Gradually I found that ”zhi” (之), from being a symbolic sign in the beginning, began to take on a spatial meaning.
And these ”Zhi” (winding paths) originally originated from the spatial folds of the mountains and forests, and people slowly created paths along these folds.
Development process
The main structure consists of 3 main chords connected to each other in a triangular configuration via 28 web members. Therefore, the design adopts the traditional Taiwanese bamboo sleeve-joint technique to minimize bolt-hole drilling in the bamboo, preventing splitting and failure caused by excessive perforations. Since the angles of each member inside the triangular tube are different, form-resistance is achieved in all directions, maintaining the stability of the entire shape. After the main structure is stabilized, flank arches are added to maintain the stability of the lateral structural system and suppress lateral deformation. At the same time, the flank arches continue the zigzag vocabulary in their form, conceptually connecting the aerial iron bridge path with the ground-level walking path.
Manufacturing Process
Size & Material
Length 15m, width 4.23m, height 5.6m
Moso bamboo, makino bamboo, metal sheet roof
Design: Prototype Structure Chang Chia-wei
Structure: Prototype Structure, Chen Kuan-Fan, Chang Chia-Wei
Lighting: Ode Design, Cheng Yi Lighting
Construction: Midsummer Night Bamboo Art Workshop, Chia Chi Steel Products Co., Ltd.
| Sponsored by:Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan
| Organizer: Taiwan Bamboo Association (incorporated association)
| Co-organizers:Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Management Office
| Curated by:Prototype Structural Engineering Consultants, Ltd.
Photo credit: Yuan-Jian Photography / Chu Yi-Wen
